Air Tractor INC AT-602 accident near El Campo, Texas, May 5, 2026
On May 5, 2026 at about 9:40 pm local time, a 2016 Air Tractor INC AT-602, registered N422TW, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near El Campo, Texas (Tradewind Ag Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff resulting in a collision with a building during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2026 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- El Campo, Texas · Tradewind Ag Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-602 NO SERIES, built 2016 · all AT-602s on the register
- Registration
- N422TW · registry record · serial 602-1278
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the takeoff and initial climb to the south, the airplane encountered a “wind disturbance” which resulted in an uncommanded roll to the left. The left wing subsequently dropped and contacted a small wooden shed. The airplane yawed to the left, crossed a road, and impacted in an adjacent cornfield where it came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and he should have climbed higher to avoid downdrafts from structures located near the runway. The pilot reported the winds were 15 to 20 knots from an unknown direction.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,320 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 12,820 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,026 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2026; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-60AG (turboprop); 4,026 hours total
- Operator: Sug-Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 8TE8 El Campo TX at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,550 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,200 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KARM, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KARM 052135Z AUTO 18009G17KT 10SM SCT023 SCT029 OVC042 28/22 A2976 RMK AO2 T02750224 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Ground scar and N422TW
Photograph 2 – View of the rear empennage of N422TW
Photograph 3 – View of runway 35The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 9, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA177.